Semantics

I can't say enough how happy I am at this job. This week just flew by. The days at work go so quickly. There are continuous clinical tasks to do followed by never-ending charting; I like to keep busy. There were two days this week that we had every room on the unit filled with either antepartum, labor or postpartum mothers. I can surely see why they hired a new nurse. They really need the additional help...Unfortunately, I'm not at the point where I feel very helpful yet, though, as I still have to ask people so many questions... even silly ones like "How do you transfer a telephone call?" So, I'm not saving anyone much work at this point, but can't wait to be more independent and am able to actually be of some real help to everyone.

I'm starting to become familiar with the protocols and standing orders, etc. But, there are many more to learn.

A funny story. My first day on the unit, my preceptor said to me - very matter of factly - "We're going to go catch a baby now."

Coming from my world (doulas and midwives, etc), "Catching a baby" means actually delivering the baby as it is born in a gentle manner. SO, I was a little confused... Why are we going to catch a baby? Do they want to prepare me in case the doctor can't make it one day? Why aren't they calling the doctor? WHY IS MY PRECEPTOR SO CALM?!?

So, I ask with obvious confusion, "Why aren't we going to call the doctor to deliver the baby?"

She kindly only giggles slightly as she explains to me that in Nurse-Lingo, "Catching a Baby" involves receiving the baby from the doctor after delivery to assess it, aid in any resuscitation needed, clean it and give it initial medications.... NOT Actually Catching it. :)

Ok, so I'm finding out my transition to "nurse-hood" is going to involve a lot of re-thinking and re-defining of things I've previously looked at differently.

It's fun, though.... Everyone is super nice and very welcoming. The doctors are already calling me by name and today I got a phone call from a doctor asking for me specifically. I was nervous, but was able to provide the doctor with the needed assessment information on the patient and was able to suggest appropriately what test might need to be ordered.

Another funny thing: Recently I've developed some mild rosacea, and it manifests itself as bright red cheeks anytime I exercise or get nervous or stressed out. Sometimes it also appears for no apparent reason at all.

Anyway, it is a dead give-away for when I am nervous at all...whether I appear calm on the outside or not... So during incidents like talking on the phone to the physician about a patient or while inserting IVs or foley catheters, I have bright red cheeks... Like I let Raggedy Ann apply my make-up or something.

Hopefully I'll be more comfortable soon enough with the routine clinical tasks and interactions that I won't light up like rudolph ten times a day.